Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

D ragging up what last vestiges of power he could grab, Solomon pointed his hands at the building. He sent white flames streaming to the double doors. The heavy doors ripped open and banged hard against the walls. Then he powered up his voice to let it echo across the battlefield.

“Prime Justicar! Your soldiers are down. Your Justicars are imprisoned. Your Shield is unconscious. You are all that stands. Step outside and face justice for the cruel orders, behaviors, and decisions of the Society of the Carmine Knot.”

Listing to one side, he was stopped from falling on his face thanks to a quick move by Finlay.

“Stay on your feet. Tell me what’s happening.”

“Near burnout,” Solomon admitted.

“Can’t have that going into your last fight. Hang in there. Excuse my hands.” Finlay patted a hand around Solomon’s belt and found the pouch of stones. He snatched the last two and pressed them into Solomon’s hand. “Pull on the energy. Now.” Then he located the bag of nutrition bars and removed one. He shoved that in Solomon’s mouth. “Chew.”

Unable to reply except to follow orders, Solomon chewed on the bar. He allowed the stored energy to flow into him and rebuild his levels, but it might not be enough.

“Did you call him uncle?”

His eyes widened behind his glasses. Then he dropped his gaze. His stomach rolled and he felt nauseous.

Will everyone hate me because my bloodline? Even though I haven’t looked to it since I was a child?

“Holy flames… Holy flames. Holy flames!” Finlay bounced a few times, but held in the scream when Solomon glared. “You’re one of the children the Guild rescued. The Prime Justicar’s own son.” Again, he kept his voice low. “The heir to the Carmine throne is the most powerful arcane mage. That this the cleverest, most ironic thing! I can’t believe this.”

“Ironic?” This was definitely not the reaction Solomon expected.

“That the ‘dead son and heir’ of the strongest family within Carmine, I’m talking about the founders and leaders, is going to rip them apart and destroy them. Everything they tried to build and deceive, gone in a poof with you. I love it! What the fates?—”

Lightning split the skies. Then a massive bolt struck the steps. Just seconds before a tall figure appeared in the doorway.

“That would be the Prime. You got his attention,” Finlay said.

“Didn’t want to get it like that.”

“Don’t worry about that part. The Prime does like to make an entrance. Again, he’s a blowhard like his brother. All he has is lightning, but it doesn’t always hit the spots he wants. Defense magic is horrible. Offensive spells even worse. All he has is his name, bloodline, and reputation,” Finlay said. “I will stand next to you if you want?—”

“Not your fight. No one’s but mine.” Solomon straightened up and rolled his shoulders. Removing his glasses, he wiped his face off with his sleeve. Then he replaced his glasses and focused on the Prime Justicar.

“Knock him on his arse,” Finlay said.

Solomon glanced over at the RASI agent. “You know what.”

“What?”

“I like you.”

Finlay laughed. “I like you too. Can I keep you all for me?”

“Sorry, my heart is taken by someone else.”

“Of course. Too cute to stay on your own.” Finlay waved away the matter. “Doesn’t matter. I’m gonna keep you around. Best buddy.”

“Do that.” Solomon sheathed his blades. He rubbed his hands together to remove the light tremors that flickered across his nerves. “No defense?”

“Shields. Not that strong. He never cared about using magic, just removing it so his kind could rule and shove everyone else around.”

“Good thing I took after my mother,” Solomon muttered.

“Go kick his arse. For all of us. Please.” Finlay looked around the cluttered battleground around them. He held up a finger. “Allow me to make some room for that kicking arse.” Stomping hard on the ground while he pushed arcane magic in a circle, he shoved everyone back from what was about to happen. That included rolling a bound up Murdoch along the grass. “That is hilarious.” He waved in a couple of agents. “Got another one for you, fellas!”

The agents snickered while they took control of Murdoch after the Fozlane loosened the vines. They secured special cuffs on his wrists and ankles that subdued his magic. Hefting up him between them, they dragged Murdoch off the field.

Finlay clapped his hands at their efforts to demoralize the Carmine soldiers that watched. Most of them were on their knees, weapons knocked away, cuffs on their hands, and defeated by all the others.

All but one man left.

Turning, Solomon looked at the man who continued to stand on the porch and not move or speak. Every part of his body ached. His magic sluggish to respond. Dropping the drained gems to the ground, he couldn’t send them down like the others. Instead, he left them alone while he stepped forward.

::Get him down to the ground, dear mage, and we will assist you. We want our vengeance for what he has done to our realm,:: the Meltosse said.

/Are you at full strength?/

::For this moment, we are here. With our friends. Get him on the ground.::

/That’s the plan./

Rolling his shoulders, Solomon knew he couldn’t fight for long with magic. But he would do everything possible to end this final battle. Stepping forward, he felt another burst of a spell and recognized Finlay was enhancing their voices.

Time to set his last secret to flames to everyone.

“Prime Justicar, it is time for you to step down and face justice for the crimes you wrought across the realms,” Solomon called out. “Your soldiers are defeated. Your justicars are in cuffs. Your Shield is unconscious. The time for the Society of the Carmine Knot is over.”

“Who are you to tell me what to do?” the Prime Justicar stated. A tall man with a lean frame that spoke more of his control over his entire appearance than his magic; he kept his steel gray hair styled perfectly to frame his face with not a strand out of place. His hazel eyes pierced the space between them. He wore similar light chest armor, but kept on a full suit as befitting his position. The only item that appeared out of place was the sword belt around his waist with a curved sheath. It was almost like they interrupted a business meeting to play at war, but he wouldn’t bother to even use it.

While others might have bowed or backed off, Solomon knew he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. He was no longer a child. Even nearly drained, his magic was stronger than the Prime’s. If he wanted or had that kind of heart, Solomon could kill the man where he stood. Only that wouldn’t bring justice to the realms. It wouldn’t allow the realms to properly heal.

“Who are you?” the Prime hollered. Lightning struck around him while he tried to make his stand.

“Josiah Solomon Rackley III. The son that your precious society tried to murder because he was born with the gift of arcane.”

“I have no son. He died.”

Solomon stepped closer to make sure the man could see him. He wanted to make sure the Prime could see exactly what happened to him. “To you and the realms, he did die.” He held up his hands as white flames covered them. “Out of the flames, I became Solomon Windham. I am the strongest arcane mage in the realms.” He sent a white flame into the sky. “I bring life to the realms. You bring death.” He shot another flame. “I bring power. You steal it.” Then he shot a flame cruising toward the Prime’s head, who jerked to the side to avoid getting burned. “Now I’m here to take everything from you.”

Though he couldn’t hear all of gasps, he recognized his words would have stunned all of his friends. And Cormac. Did Cormac hear his words? Hear his truth. Understand this was the last secret to be torn from his soul and sent into flames.

“You don’t have the energy or the skill to take me down.” Josiah withdrew the curved blade from its sheath. He walked down the steps in a slow, deliberate fashion.

Going straight to the blades because you know you can’t match my magic. With an internal grin, Solomon pulled his dagger to keep his dominant left hand free.

Time to change things up. Solomon wanted to play by his rules.